Rotary weeder



ROTARY WEEDER Filed Deo. 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [IAL/of @LK/N5Inventor Attorney c. c. cALKlNs ROTARY WEEDER May 23, 1933.

Filed Dec. 1e, 1951 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 a M w 4 M M m D.

Inventor Attorney 1 e "Patented May` z3, 1933 PATENT OFFICEV Gianna e.cALxINs, or sroxANE, WASHINGTON `Romair Appncation filed retainer`16,1931.` serii 110.581,323.

1 "My `present invention relates to improvee ments in `rotary Weeders`and `partlcularly .to

the driving mechanism and power transmis-- sion mechanism oftheseimplements and sim- *5` ilar implements. While I havelillustratedfand describedl` the invention particularlyL as applied torotarylweeders, it will beunderstood* that mylinvention may also beapplied to and physically embodied inotherfimple- 10 ments. M l i Incarrying out my `invention I have sucy `cessfully"reduced `the invention`toi actual practice as illustrated intheaccompanying t impl-ement,which involves theusegofa transversely disposed rotary rod/located atthe rearlofthe implement andvre'volved clockwise by `means `,of 1 powerdeveloped by the anti-clockwise rotation of la `traction "wheel of theimplement. Thus,`my`improved driv- `w ing" and transmission mechanism isinterposed betweenMthe tractionror powerfwheel of the implement and therotary weeder- `rod for the purpose of driving the latte'rzin direc?tionopposite to `orthereverse of that of the` traction orfground wheel`of theimplementi "In its physical embodimentfmy invention,

as an attachmentto the weeder, is especially desirablebecause itpossesses thejcharzuiter'-` isties of simplicity,l ruggedness,durability, and reliability in` operation, and is capableV of `facileadjustment, `and repai1s1when`neccs- `sary. K The inventionconsistsinrcertainvnovel combinations and arrangements of` parts involving thechain drive Amechanismas will hereinafter more`,fully `be pointed'outand claimed. In the `accompanying drawings `I have illustrated onecomplete example of the `physical embodiment cfmy ,invention in a i i140rotary weeder `infwhich the parts are combined and 1 arranged accordingto the best e Nmode I1 have thuswfar devised for the prac-` tical 1application of the principles ofmy inl vention.

` 1. 1 Figure Fperspetivlvw at al@ 1ere,

rear, showing the implement in dotted lines, t i

and the attachment embodying my invention applied: thereto for operatingthe rotary rod at the rear of the implement. 1 i Figure 2 is a top` planview `of thedriving 50 mechanism embodying my invention, with partsYomitted for convenience of illustration.` Figure 3 is a side viewat thelower end of thetauxiliary frame showing" the bearing for the countershaft, and connections thereto.`

Figure lis adetail sectional view at line 4+4ofFi`gure3; 1 'Figure 5 isa perspective viewof a portion of the auxiliary the chain guide.` y e In`order that the utility of the invention, and the,` relation of partsmay readily be understood `I have shownby dotted lines in Figure l awell known type of rotary `weeder including the main frame l and therearward- 1y extending, parallel, longitudinal beams 2 having bearings3, in which the square weed# er rod 4revolves below the surface ofjtheand 6, as the implement is drawn forward bysuitable power appliedto thedraft tongue (not shown), Thedrive shaft or axle 8 of the implement,which `is journaled in bear-` e ings 9 ofthe mainframe, alsoturnsfanticlockwise with the wheels 5 and 6, and the latter wheeltransmits power through the 1 drive shaft 8 and a driving gear or"sprocket Wheel k10 that islooseon the shaft. The 80 sprocket wheel `l()is coupledto the` traction wheel through the coaction of the twocomplementary clutch members 11 and 12,` the former on the slidablesprocket wheel and the latter on the hub of the traction wheel, i5

`and suitable means are provided for shift` ing the clutch into and outof engagement.` i `l'referably`at the' left `side ofthe implement, andextending rearwardly from'ithe ua-Xle, an` auxiliary frameismounted,.which 9G frame showing particularly frame includes an extensionbar made up of angle irons 13 and 14 having series of bolt holes 15, andjoined together by the use of bolts 16. rlhis extension bar extends inan approximately horizontal plane below the shaft 8, and a bearing block17 mounted on the bar is journaled on the shaft for the support of theextension bar at this point. A collar 1S is fixed on the end of theshaft to prevent displacement of the bearing block and permit the shaftto revolve in the block.

At its rear end the extension-bar of the auxiliary frame is supported bymeans'of an angle brace 19 forming part of the auxiliary frame, and theupper end of this brace is Secured by a bolt andi slet fastening 20- to'the mam frame 1 of the implement. As seen.

in Figure 1 the brace bar 19 extends downwardly and outwardly from therear` cross,

mounted. The countershaft isv joined by means of the universal joint 24tothe'vl'eft end of the rotary weeder rod14. The bearing block isfastenedto the angle brace by means of bolts Qwhiclr pass throughtapered liol'es 25a and the bearing block is provided with oppositelybeveled faces 22a, in order, that, if necessary, the block may beadjusted rela'- tiveljv to the angle-brace to whiclnit is fastened orbolted.

As best seen in Figure 3, the-bearing block QQis fashioned'with a pairof-.perforatedears or lugs 26, and aY bolt 27 is passedV through theselugs and through a boltliole inthe-rear end of the section 14 of theside extension bar of the auxiliary frame, for fastening the bar to, andsupporting it from the bearing block 22. Thus it will be seen that theextension bar 13'14, the angle` brace 19, the brace 21, and the bearingblock 22, together form a-rigid auxiliary, supporting: frame for thecounter shaft 23, and the latter is also supported at the universaljoint 24 with the rotary weeder rod 4. l

An oil cup 28 is provided for the journal.

top of the drive sprocket from under the bottom of the driven sprocket,and the slack or loose flight 31 passes from under the drive sprocketupwardly, and over the driven sprocket. This twisted arrangement of thedrive chain transmits the anti-clockwise rotation of the traction wheel,axle and drive sprocket, and translates such rotation to a clockwisemovement of the countershaft and weeder rod In order to preventinterference of the slack flight with the driving flight of the chain,and to guide the links of the chain to the teeth of the driven sprocketand thus prevent displacement of the chain, I provide ir Uisliapedgu-idcthrough which the elevated portion of the slack flight of thechain glides. 'This guide is supported from the angle brace,above thedriven sprocket by means of two metal straps 33`and 34 which are boltedto thel angle brace,l and the boltv36 secures the'guide'to'theconverging endsof these two metal straps 33-and 34.

InFigureQit willbenoted'that the countershafti is swung on. itsypivotal' or universal-y joint 24 at an angle to the axle or driving:shaft 8, andthe angle of divergence is indicated at the letter A and thedotted line.4 rthisarrangement of the countershaft, together with theuse of the guide 32, insures that the chainv suspended between the drivesprocket and the driven sprockets shallproperly engage the teeth of thesprockets;` prevents lateralf friction and wear onv theteeth ofthesprockets; prevents frictional contact and abrasion between the twoflights of the cllaiir; and insures freeinovement and smooth operationofthe sprocket chainon the sprocket wheels.

rIlhe relative" adjustment of the driven sprocket is accomplishedlthrough adjustments ofthe auxiliary frame and the countershaft, and theangle of the countershaft may bevaried until the exact adjustment issecured. The bearing block 22 through its tapered bolt holes' andbeveled facesmay be properly adjustedl and alined with the sha-ft 23 toprevent binding or pinching of the shaft. inits bearing. The sideextension bar 13-14 may be adjusted as to its length in ordertolcompensate for andtake up wearin the sprocket chain.

Due to the crossing or twisting ofj the chain, morethan half of theteeth of each sprocket wheel are in working contact with the linksofthev chain,.thereby providing a wide bearing for the drive sprocket andthe drivenf sprocket on the chain, and insuring smoothy cosaction of thewheels with the links of the chain* rlhe upward tilt of the countershaftat an'angle-as indicatedf in Figure 1,

andI thebackward tilt, as indicatedl in Figure 2, together with theadjustment of the auxiliary frame which supports the countershaft andits connected parts, vare instrumentall in 1Q of parts now `commonlyemployed in rotary weeder rod disposed parallel with `the shaft,

bringing the driven sprocket inkproper relation to the drive sprocket inorder that the drive chain may attain its highest efficiency intransmitting and translating the power `from the main sliaftor axletoinsure a positive, smooth, and reliable operation of the l rotary weederrod 4.

By the utilization of the mechanism of my invention it will be apparentthat a number weeders are eliminated, l and] a minimum number of partsis substituted therefor in which simplicityof construction and ofoperation attained i i Having thus fully described `my invention, j

what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

` `1.` The combination in a rotary weeder with its drive shaft and adrive sprocket thereon, of a fdriven shaft having its longii i tudinalaxis disposed at an angle to the axis of the shaft andasprocketthereon., a twisted drive chain on said sprockets to reverse the driveof the latter shaft andmeans for adjusting the driven sprocket forfacile opera-` l tion of the drive chain.

2. 'lhe combination in a rotary weeder withits drive shaft `and drivesprocket, and a supporting frame therefor, of an auxiliary,

adjustable frameand adjusting means therefor, a countershaft having itslongitudinal n axis Ydisposed at an angle to the shaft and journaled inthe auxiliary frame and a sprocket on saideountershaft, a twisted drivechain between said sprockets, and a guide for said chain mounted on theauxiliary frame. 1 i

3. The combination in a rotary weeder with its main frame, drive shaftand rotary and a drivesprocket on the shaft, of an auxiliary framesupported from the main frame wand shaft, a countershaft having itslongi-` `tudinal axis disposed at an angle to the shaft and rod andjournaled in the auxiliary frame, a sprocket on `the countershaft, auniversal joint between said eountershaft and `the weeder rod, and atwisted drive chain between said sprockets.

n 4:. The combination i in a rotary weeder with its main frame,driveshaft and drive j sprocket, and a rotary weeder rod disposedjustable means `forfastening"the auxiliary t In testimony whereof Iaffixmy signature. 1 i

` j CLAUDE C. GALKINS.

parallel with the shaft, of an auxiliary frame i supported onsaid shaft,adjustable means for fastening the auxiliary frame tothe main Y frame, acountershaft rearwardly and upwardly tilted wlth relation to the rod andjournaled in the auxiliary frame, a universal 1 joint between thecountershaft and the weeder rod, a sprocket on the countershaft,

1 and a twisted chain between said sprockets.`

5. The combination in a' rotary weeder with its main frame, drive shaft`and drive sprocket, and ya rotary weeder rod,` of an auxiliary framejournaled on 'said shaft, ad-

